If you can set speaker distances, size, etc. in a DVD or Blu-Ray player and of course in your pre-pro or receiver, is there an advantage to 1 over the other? I set everything through my pre-pro but now I wonder what the settings are in my source. Does the pre-pro / receiver settings supercede the source settings or vice versa or do they negate each other if both aren't set in unison. Can they be turned off in the source if set in the pre-pro? I plan to continue setting them in my pre-pro so my question is what do I do with the settings at the source? I was confused before I started this thread, but now I'm more confused!!
To the best of my knowledge, it all depends on which, receiver or source, does a better job of processing the signal. The settings in the source should only have an effect if you connect the source's multichannel analog outputs to the receiver's multichannel analog inputs. The source is doing the decoding and digital-to-analog conversion thus bypassing the settings in the receiver.
If you use an HDMI or digital connection (optical or coaxial), you are bypassing the source's settings and the decoding and digital-to-analog conversion is performed in the receiver and it's settings are in play.
There should be a setting (or settings) in the source where you set which ouputs you are using (HDMI, digital, or analog).
OK, thanks. That makes sense. I'm using HDMI from the player to the TV and optical for sound from the player to the pre-pro. I'll check everything tonight when I play Iron Man again.
I would do everything in the receiver (pre/pro) so that any changes you make affect all sources. It seems to me like this would make it a lot easier to manage as you add/remove sources from the system over time.
Charles, unless you're speaking of a situation in which the receiver can't set those parameters, e.g., an SACD in setups where the player(which of course isn't actually the "source")will set them before converting to analog , the receiver sets them.
Pretty much what I thought but I read so much on different forums that I sometimes begin to wonder about things and of course want to make sure I'm squeezing the last drop of SQ out of my equipment.
Appreciate all the feedback.